January 2012 Arizona Thoracic Society Notes

The January Arizona Thoracic Society meeting was held on 1/11/2012 at Scottsdale Shea beginning at 6:30 PM. There were 30 in attendance representing the pulmonary, radiology, thoracic surgery and allergy communities.

Al Thomas was voted to be clinician of the year nominee from Arizona.

A progress report for 2011 was given by Rick Robbins on the Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care (for a summary of the presentation click here).

Multiple cases were presented:

1. George Parides presented a 64 year old with a second PPD which was positive. A discussion regarding interpretation of PPDs ensued.
2. Gerald Swartzberg presented two cases-both had in common a markedly elevated IgE level. These cases created a discussion of the differential diagnosis of an elevated IgE and how to approach patients with this laboratory abnormality.
3. Paul Conomos presented 2 cases. One was a patient with a pericardial cyst and the other a subcarinal mass. Discussion centered on how to manage patients with asymptomatic subcarinal masses.
4. Cristian Jivcu presented a case of a left upper lobe 7 cm mass. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage was negative. The patient was followed with complete resolution.
5. Henry Luedy presented a 79 yo with an interstitial lung disease probably secondary to chronic aspiration for 5 years with complete radiologic resolution.
6. Joshua Jewell presented a case of pneumonia with empyema. Rather than decoritcation the patient was treated with thoracostomy drainage and TPA and DNAase with complete resolution over several weeks.
7. Manny Mathew followed with a similar case of a pleural effusion treated with TPA which also resolved. Discussion occurred on when it was appropriate to treat patients conservatively with chest tube drainage compared to aggressively with decortication.

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 21, 6:30 PM at Scottsdale Shea.

Richard A. Robbins, M.D.

Reference as: Robbins RA. January 2012 Arizona thoracic society notes. Southwest J Pulm Crit Care 2012;4:4. (Click here for a PDF version of the Notes)